Can Planet-Love Handle Some GOOD NEWS ?

[TLC Bruce]

Marriage Success Rates VS Divorce Rates:

   I consider myself very fortunate. With the 'First Class' Singles Vacations format that TLC offers, I haven’t witnessed all the problems described on this board.  My clients are generally great guys, above average in most categories.  I consider many of them my friends.  Yes, we have some below-average guys, but even they do well if they are positive men with some personality skills and willing to give it a try.

   Back on 3/29/05 Gary Bala posted a study he conducted entitled ‘Marriage Longevity Rates for Latina- American Marriages' among his clientele.  Not one member of Planet-Love.com responded to it.  I assume no one read it. Gary’s informal study found that of the 169 inter-cultural couples he assisted who married, only 15 later divorced (within 5 years).  His initial findings seem to dispute the ‘green card shark’ theory now prevalent on his board.  

        His study also offered some good advice to the general successfulness of these marriages.

   Feel free to read Gary’s informal study.  Constructive feedback would be beneficial to all of us.
       
http://www.usaimmigrationattorney.com/MarriageLongevityRates.html

Bruce White
www.tlcworldwide.com
(713) 896-9993

[Jamie]

... in response to Can Planet-Love Handle Some GOOD NEWS ?, posted by TLC Bruce on Jun 21, 2005

n/t

[doombug]

... in response to Can Planet-Love Handle Some GOOD NEWS ?, posted by TLC Bruce on Jun 21, 2005

"Gary’s informal study found that of the 169 inter-cultural couples he assisted who married, only 15 later divorced (within 5 years)."

Gary's a great asset to the boards, so I don't want this to come off as a shot at him.  But, did/does he actively follow these 169 marriages for the duration?  Are the 15  clients who later divorced just those who came forward to keep him apprised of their situation; and/or, to seek advice/assistance with the divorce process?

I assume that it would also be quite difficult to periodically track and contact these couples for an update.  Nonetheless, it would be remarkable/telling if after actively tracking these marriages for such a time to later discover such a vast majority of them still intact.

A 91% success rate within 5 years sounds great, but too many of the variables are still unknown.

[Heat]

... in response to Can Planet-Love Handle Some GOOD NEWS ?, posted by TLC Bruce on Jun 21, 2005

The good news is guys are finding out through websites such as this one that there are alternatives to the large ripoff "tour" that you promote.  

They have found out that you do next to nothing to really help them.  That you way over charge for what you offer.  Do not screen any of your clients.  And offer a pack of lies instead of the truth.

That is the reason that your client numbers are down.

The Internet is a powerful thing.  And it's flushing out the crap in this industry.

[TLC Bruce]

... in response to Handle Some GOOD NEWS ? Yes, posted by Heat on Jun 21, 2005

The number of TLC tour participants are actually up this year. Another fact (not the first or the last) you've got wrong.

When are you going to make good on your lost bet ?

I thought you were a man of honor.

[Cali James]

... in response to Handle Some GOOD NEWS ? Yes, posted by Heat on Jun 21, 2005

"The Internet is a powerful thing. And it's flushing out the crap in this industry."

As a source of information, the internet is great, no argument there.  But the internet was also responsible for the agency explosion that we saw in the industry the past decade.  Where we had a few larger agencies operating out of the FSU, now we have thousands. I'm all for competition but as a consumer it's not easy to know what agency is good or bad when there are now so many.  The agency might have a great web-site but the real agency itself might be little or nothing.

[Jamie]

... in response to Handle Some GOOD NEWS ? Yes, posted by Heat on Jun 21, 2005

who would only stand to gain from Heat’s barrage against them I can honestly and informatively say that they are not a “ripoff”.

They do not “over charge”, for you to do on your own what they do for you would cost you thousands of dollars more.

They do not screen their clients because it is beyond the scope of a tour operator to screen clients nor should they have too.

They don’t “offer a pack of lies” most agency owners over time know who are the honest ones and who are the crooks and TLC is not one of the crooks.

This is not say that they don’t make mistakes or no one has had a valid complaint your just not hearing one now.

Engage the Exotic – Latin Women
http://International-Introductions.com

[Heat]

... in response to As a direct competitor to TLC, posted by Jamie on Jun 21, 2005

Guys are figuring out they don't need the agency.
So you all must stick together.  Business is hurting for the agencies because men are doing on their own.

You're over charging and it's driving business to other marketplaces.

[Jamie]

... in response to More like one and the same.........., posted by Heat on Jun 21, 2005

“Guys are figuring out they don't need the agency.”

Most guys need or want the help of an agency those with experience of course have more options.

”So you all must stick together.”

I just stick with the truth.

“Business is hurting for the agencies...”

Good I hope I am part of the reason for their hurt.

“...because men are doing on their own.”

Most men who do it alone end up doing it again on their own and then again on their own and then again...

“You're over charging and it's driving business to other marketplaces.”

You sound like a socialist, plane ticket to France anyone? If you don’t like the price don’t make the purchase. You enjoy telling other business what they should charge. Why don’t you provide us all a price list of what we should charge for specific service Heat?

Engage the Exotic – Latin Women
http://International-Introductions.com

[Heat]

... in response to More like the same stuff from you...., posted by Jamie on Jun 22, 2005

Agencies had better change and adapt or die.

Call me whatever you want but you will not silence us.
Guys are getting educated and bypassing the ripoff agencies.  

Good agencies like Latin Best survive because the really care about the gringo, charge a reasonable price and don't ripoff the customer.  

There are good agencies.  Your's is not one of them.

[Cali James]

... in response to More like one and the same.........., posted by Heat on Jun 21, 2005

[This message has been edited by Cali James]

"Guys are figuring out they don't need the agency."

Among the ex-pat crowd certainly this is the case but that's always been true.  Among the "frequent travelers", they may have started out at agencies but over time they make local friends and so it's not surprising to see many of them break from the agency routine.  But these two groups while certainly growing in numbers it seems, are still a minority.  Most guys still buy addresses, go on tours or visit agencies.

[Heat]

... in response to Re: More like one and the same.........., posted by Cali James on Jun 21, 2005

Really?  How do you know that?  More and more I see guys using translators and alternative methods.  Why has the agency business suffered so much lately.  

Why is fat Bruce selling the same old tired ripoff tours for the same price as he did five years ago? Why no increase in price?

Why are so many agencies going out of business?

Why was there no demand for Papi's agency?

Business is down because there is less demand.
Guys are wising up and trying alternative methods.

[Cali James]

... in response to Re: Re: More like one and the same........., posted by Heat on Jun 22, 2005

Hey I'm not defending TLC's pricing policies so don't pull me into that.  Also, a guy who is writing women and hiring a translator may still very well be using an agency.  Where did the person get the address, did they put their own ad in El Pais (I'd be surprised) or did they buy the address from an agency address seller like amigos.com or even TLC.  

As far as agencies going out of business, that's been happening for years.  Every agency that I had some kind of contact with (other than Latin Best) from 1999 - 2002 went out of business and most rather quickly.  I could count at least half a dozen that appeared and dissappeared in a span of a couple of years.  Did they disappear because guys started meeting women outside of agencies, it might have played a part but I would think a small one at best.

[locoabogado]

... in response to As a direct competitor to TLC, posted by Jamie on Jun 21, 2005

My buddy that I met in Panama at the TLC tour in july 03 will be picking up his fiance visa at denver airport tomorrow, after a long courtship and even longer visa process she is here in 24 hours. I think TLC was a blast and would do it again with an agency backup as plan b. To each his own but to a regular guy like me its a good deal...